The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-23
AN ILLINOIS VENDETTA.
Bloody Feud Between the Belts and
OldhaEas.

OlQndIlS.
A dispatch from Elizabethtown, H., to
the New York Times says: Another victim
of the assassin's bullet was found on Il hill
side in this county yesterday, the second
within a month. The war of determination
is being waged fiercely on both sides, and
the county authorities, who are identified
| with both factions, are powerleSS to ar
rest the bloodshed. The Belt family
was one of the most prominent in the
county, and settled in Hardin shortly after
it was surveyed, ten years ago. Logan Belt
owned a large farm, practiced little law,
and ran race horses. He had returned from
the war with a great record for personal
! courage. His enmity was dreaded, Tor
when his blood was up the desperado's
spirit manifested itself, and he did not
know the meaning of law or fear.
! About the same time the Oldhams lived
in North Hardin, family just as reckless,
| but not so wealthy as the Belts One night
| in 1876 there was party at the house OF an
| Oldham, and Logan Belt was among the
guests There had been bad blood between
! Belt and Doc Oldham on account OF a
| woman, tenant of Belts, whom he
evicted Oldham did not wait long to open
hostlites, but as soon as Belt appeared, be
gan TO abuse him. Belt challenged him totight
with pistols, and the answer was blow
| from pair of brass knucklcs. Belt fell
back blinded with blood, but. bounding for
ward, caught Oldham by the shoulders and
rushed him toward the fireplace with the
intention of throwing him into the flames
| The men were separated, but Oldham fol-
lowed Belt, who backed to the wall, where
he drew his pistol and shot Oldham dead.
This was the beginning of the feud. The
ncghbOrS divided into factions over the
homicide The Oldhams and their relations
were bent on infiicting the heaviest punish,
| ment on the Belts, while the latter and
their friends planned to resist It, Belt was
indicted for murder, but released on bail
The feeling on both sides grew very bitter
Wheat stacks and barns began to burn i'll
mysterious manner, and witnesses on each
side received orders to leave the county
One of the most important witnesses for the
prosecution was Walsh Coinst, and
when he received a charge of shot
that carried away an arm excite
ment reached high pitch. This shoot
ing was laid at the door of the Belt faction
While this was the situation the mysteri-
Gus murder of Luke Hambrink, peaceful
old farmer, took place. Hambrink was
connected with the Oldham faction, one of
his daughters having married an Oldham
and another one of the Oldham allies. He
was really preserving a neutral position,
and lived alone with his wife He was con
templating a trip to Germany and had col
lected 81, 800. 1t was said that the Oldhams
demanded this money to prosecute Belt, but
Hambrink refused them. While returning
home one evening he was waylaid at his
door and shot through the heart
The COrOner's jury failed to clear up tho
mystery and the feeling became intense.
The Oldham faction went about iii sections,
armed, dcnouncing the murder and threat
ening vengeance. Six weeks after the as
saSsnation thirty citizens met at Cave-ln-
the-ROcll and formed an organization to
clear the mystery of the murder. The Old
hams were not there, but among those
prominent in the gathering We're Logan
Belt, Jonathan Belt, Earl Sherwood, and
bound and called themselves "Sons of
Liberty" The oath was not strong
enough to keep all tongues silent, and soon
the story of an organization of the kuklux
got abroad 1t was formed for
the purpose of protecting the murderer Of
Hambrink. Everybody began to arm, and
reign of terror prevailed. A relative of
the Belts named Frailey was convicted of
the Covert shooting. Then the Oldham
case against Logan Belt was pushed, and he
was sentenced to fifteen years in the peni-
| tertiary.
| Last year Belt was pardoned, and return
ing to his old home joined the Baptist
church His wife he learned had not acted
| faithfully during his absence, and he pro
wife's relatives joined the Oldham faction,
and last fall a great sensation was caused
| by the grand jury returning six lndlct-
nlents for the Hambrink murder The
indicted were Logan Belt, Earl Sher-
wood, James Belt, George Radcliffe, and
| lobe and Henry Ledbetter brothers of
| Mrs. Hambrink, who were said to be iden-
| titled with the Oldham crowd. The Led
betters were related to the Sheriff and pros
ecuting attorney of the county. The trial
| occurred three months ago, and although
| the Oldham crowd and Belts divorced wife
and her relations made strong fight against
| him the defendants all proved strong alibis
and were acquitted.
This did not settle matters, however, and
the blood letting and night riding were re
sumed Every man Of the men acquitted
were served with written notices to leave
| the country on penalty of death. Sherwood
| obeyed the orders, and moved to Franklin
| county. The Ledbetters returned to Ken
lucky and the Belts remained at their old
homes and held the fort. Logan Belt con
| tinued to attend the Baptist church and was
not known to have raised his hand against
any man since his pardon from the peniten-
tiary. The other faction were bent on re
venge On June 6, while Logan Belt was
riding along near the Cave-in-the-rock he
was shot from ambush and killed. The
murder created as big a sensation as the six
indictments LOT Une HafnDTlnk aSSttSSllla-
ton. An attempt was made to ferret out
the murderers, but it proved fruitless,
although the Oldham faction was put down
for it,
Jonas Belt, who was half brother of Lo-
gan and George Radcliffe, who lived near
Logan and was his friend, were served with
fresh orders to leave the State. They buried
Logan, armed themselves, and did not obey
the order. Yesterday Jonas Belt was way
loNpl and killed in ('aVp-in- fl p- rpply tho
scene of so many bloody tragedies. Ratclitf
and Sherwood are still in the vicinity, and
the question is: "Who nextN Ratcliff was
fired at again tonight while at supper, and
shot through the shoulder.
FORMATION OF A WHISKY TRUST.